LEAVING Dandenong on Friday afternoon for Wonthaggi, Lieutenant M. H. Bolton, recruiting officer for Flinders, with Sergeants E. J. Coyle and R. Middleton had a most exciting experience in their new Ford recruiting car.
After leaving Lang Lang the officers struck very bad roads, and decided to leave the main road and take a side track. It was dark and after looking over the road in daylight, it was seen that the car was but a few feet from a death trap in three very bad places.
At one point the car had been was only a few inches from a steep cliff overlapping the sea. Sergeant Coyle, who was at the wheel, thinking danger was ahead stopped the car just in time to save it from dashing over the cliffs, which would have been certain death.
A cheer went up when the officers arrived at Wonthaggi, where they will hold a recruiting meeting. As a result of their visit 11 recruits were obtained.
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IT was announced by the Speaker in the House of Representatives on Wednesday that the writ for the Flinders by-election, necessitated by the retirement of Sir William Irvine, will be issued on Friday.
Nominations will close on Monday, 29th April, and polling day is fixed for Saturday, 11th May. The writ is returnable on or before 25th May.
It is officially stated on behalf of a the National Federation that there will be no lack of candidates for the vacant seat in the Flinders electorate.
As far as can be gathered, from 16 to 18 candidates have intimated their intention of offering their services in the Nationalist interests.
Today the executive of the United National Federation will meet, when the steps to be taken to select a candidate from the number offering will be considered.
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THE writ for the Election of a member of the House of Represented for the Division of Flinders, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Sir William Irvine, will be issued at an early date.
Persons who are not already enrolled are reminded that all claims for enrolment must reach the Commonwealth Electoral Registrar for the Subdivision in which they live not later than six o’clock on this date of the issue of the Writ.
Claims for enrolment received after that date and hour will not be dealt with until after the Election has taken place.
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A PETITION has been presented to His Excellency the Governor in Council, asking that the shire of Frankston and Hastings be resubdivided and that the North riding be made into two ridings.
The petitioners state that the valuation of the North riding is £21,300 and returns 3 councillors, whilst the combined valuation of the centre and east ridings amounts to £26,719, and returns six councillors.
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A NUMBER of ratepayers of the Lyndhurst parish of the Cranbourne shire have petitioned His Excellency the Governor in Council to attach part of the said shire to the shire of Frankston and Hastings.
The petitioners state that they have no interests in the Cranbourne shire, their principle business centres being Frankston, Seaford and Carrum.
That to reach these centres they have to travel over roads within the shire of Frankston and Hastings. That the roads to these centres are very bad, and under present circumstances they have no rights enabling them to ask for works to be done, their rates going in one direction and their traffic in another.
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READERS will notice in our advertising columns the sports programme for Saturday afternoon, April 20th in the Frankston Park. Admission 1s, children half price.
Proceeds will be devoted to the Repatriation Fund. The programme embraces events for young and old, for soldiers and for horsemen. A novel event will be a race for draught horses, to be ridden without whips or spurs.
Major Conder and Messrs Oates, Jolly and Young met last week end and drew up the programme which should create much pleasure and mirth for patrons.
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THE proposal to expend £168,845 on the erection of quarters and work- shops at Flinders naval base for the accommodation of the district naval personnel was the subject of a report submitted to Parliament on Wednesday by the Federal Public Works Committee.
After taking an immense amount of evidence the committee recommended that the machine and fitting shop and the temporary hospital should be proceeded with at once, and that tenders be called for the erection of the married officers’ quarters, the Department of Works to submit a tender for the carrying out of the work by day labor.
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V. WILLIAMS, of Ballam Park. A meeting of those interested in the formation of a gymnasium club at Frankston will be held at Mr. Brashers residence, Davey Street, Frankston, this (Saturday) evening at 7.30 p.m.
Several local gentlemen are actively interesting themselves in the proposal and it is hoped in the near future that a club will be formed, members of which will be able to in indulge in boxing, wrestling etc., during the winter evenings.
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REV E. Tonkin begins his third year as superintendent of the Frankston Methodist Circuit on Sunday next.
He will conduct both the morning and evening services in the local Church. The evening service, until further notice, begins at 7pm.
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WITH a view of bringing the local cheque for the returned soldiers’ Repatriation Fund up to £100 a high class concert, will be held in the Mechanics’ Hall, Frankston at 8 p.m. on Saturday evening, April 20th.
We are informed that the forthcoming programme will equal, if it does not excel, the previous concert, and a great musical treat is promised.
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THE proceeds of the concert held at Franktson on Easter saturday night, under the auspices of the local branch of the Red Cross in aid of the Soldiers Repatriation fund, amounted to £19 6s 3d, and a further sum of £5 5s was secured for the same object by the raffle of a rug which was won by Mr C. G. V. Williams, of Ballam Park.
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CONSTABLE Farley, who was stationed at Frankston during the summer months, returned to Melbourne on Thursday.
During his stay here Constable Farley made many friends and proved himself a capable and efficient officer.
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IN our report of an entertainment held at Somerville on Thursday evening, March 28th, the name of Miss Bessie Grant, who gave a dainty impersonation of Cecile, sister of Lydia, in the farce entitled “My turn next” was inadvertently omitted.
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IMPOUNDED at Frankston, 1 Bay Gelding, about 15 hands, four black points, three shoes off, near hind shoe on, about 9 years, branded like V on near shoulder. If not claimed and expenses paid will be cold on Monday, April 29th, 1918.
F. H. WELLS, Ranger.
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From the pages of the Mornington Standard, 13 April 1918